Vehicle wheel



March 3o, 1937. E, UPPER ET AL 2,075,155

VEHICLE WHEEL Filed March 9, 1953 g5/'W www Patented Mar. 30, i937UNITED .STATES VEHICLE WHEEL Emil Zipper and Walter Zipper, Vienna,Austria Appiicaiioa March 9, 193s, serial No. 660,173 In Austria. March9, 1932 7 Claims. (Cl. 301-12) This invention relates to vehicle wheelswith a detachable' felly-like rim of the type which is dividedcircumferentially, the sections thereof being adapted to be forced apartby the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire applied thereto, andthereby to be secured to the xed rim or to the body of thewheel. Inwheels of this type the sections constituting the detachable rim areloosely or disengageably interconnected, and one of the two sections'bears against a counter-support -which is detachably or adjustablyconnected to the body of thewheel. After the detachable rim, tted -withthe Ifully iniiated tire, has been applied to the wheel, the connectionbetween the two sections is disengaged or released to such an extentthat the internal pressure of the tire presses the sections apart andcauses thesame to become clamped between the above-mentioned fixed.counter-support land the counter-support which is adjustably connectedto the body of the wheel.

In order to permit of the tting together of the parts of the wheel, andto allow for the unavoidable inaccuracies in construction, a clearanceof a few millimeters must be provided between the adjustablecounter-support and the rim section associated therewith when theseparts are in their relative operative positions before the connectionsbetween the two sections is slackened oi. After the slackening of thisconnection, the above-mentioned clearance is taken up by thedisplacement of the rim section eected by the internal pressure of thetire. This displacement is accompanied, when one of the two sectionsitself takes the form of an open expanding ring, by an alteration in theshape of this section, since the same is compressed to a smallerdiameter by the internal pressure of the tire.

In the case of the hitherto known wheels of the described type, thedisplacement and/or deformation of the section bearing against theadjustable counter-support is so great that it is not possible toovercome the same, that is to say to restore thisY section to itsoriginal condition, in a sumciently' simple and effortless manner whilethe tire is still inated. In order to take the 'detachable rim oi the'Wheel it is thus necessary first to deiiate the tire. This fact is ofno consequence for the replacement of a punctured or otherwise damagedtire, but is a cause of very considerable inconvenience in thechanging-over of tires which are not deflated, for example when puttingthe tires from the front wheels on to the rear wheels` and vice versa,or when changing over the tires of twin wheels. In the case of theselatter. the

' ample shown,

replacement of a damaged inner tire can only be effected after the outertire has beenV deated and removed.

'I'he present invention has for its object to enable th displacement ordeformation of the sec-l tion bearing against the adjustablecounter-support t be kept within such restricted limits that it caneasily and eiortlessly be overcome, and the section be restored to itsoriginal condition, with the tire remaining iniiated, so that it becomespossible to detach and remount the rim with the tire in the inatedcondition thereon. The problem thus presented is solved," in accordancewith the present invention, 'by the arrangement that the Aadjustablecounter-support associated with the body of the wheel is caused, duringthe process of being set to lock 4the detachable rim in position, tocarry out an additional movement in the direction towards the detachablerim, while itself remaining in bearing contact with the body of thewheel. -In this manner the above-mentioned clearance between theadjustable Ycountersupport and the detachable rim is entirely or partlytaken up, so that the displacement or deformation of the sectionsupported or locked in position by the adjustable. counter-support to beeffected by the internal pressure of the tire, -is reduced to a minimum.

A constructional example of the embodiment of the invention is shown inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a wheel in accordance with the invention, in axial section.

Fig. 2 shows the same wheel in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line A-B of Fig. 2. v

Figs. 4 and 5 show details of the wheel. Referring to the drawing, thebody Il) of the wheel will be seen to be provided with a detachable rimwhich is divided 'circumferentially into two sections which are denotedby I I and I2; in the ex? this rim is constructed in accordance with theAustrian Patent No. 113,732. The one section II takes the vform of aclosed ring and bears with a conical seating surface I3 upon a conicalseating surface I4 on the body l0 of the wheel (Fig. 1); while' theother section I2 is transversely cut through at I5 (Fig. 2). so that itsdiameter canvbe slightlyalterd. The two sections II and I2 interengagewith conical anges I6 and I1 (Fig. 1). 'If the diameter of thesection.I2 be decreased, the conical flange .I1 becomes slightlydisplaced on the flange I6 of the section II` in the direction oi.' thearrow I (Fig. 1), 'and the breadth of the rim thereby becomes somewhatgreater. 'I'he enlargement of the dlameter of the section I2 is eiiectedby means oi' a toggle lever I8 the ends of which bear against lugs I9 onthe mutually opposed ends of the sec-` tion I2. When this toggle leverI8 is-transferred from the buckled position shown in Fig. 4 into thestretched position shown in Fig. 5, the section I2 is firmly connected,with asomewhat enlarged diameter, to the section II, and the tirepreviousl0 ly applied to the rim can be fully inflated. In thiscondition, that is to say with expanded or spread section I2, the rimtogether with the fully inflated tire can Abe carried as a spare on anautomobile or the like. In this condition also the rim is tted on to thebody III of the wheel, after which it is locked in position thereon,against the fixed counter-support Il (Fig. 1) by means of a movablecounter-support. If the toggle lever I8 be then released from itsstretched position (Fig.

5) vand lifted out, Vthe internal pressure of the tire will force thesections II, I2 apart, as indicated by the arrow lI in Fig. 1. thediameter of the Section I2 is slightly decreased, andthe conical ange I1caused to slide slightly upon the conical ange I5 in the direction ofthe arrow I (Fig. 1), without these flanges I6 and I1 being broughtentirely out of engagement with each other. The sections II and I2 arethen pressed by the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire with greatforce against the fixed counter-'support Il and against the adjustablecounter-support then in the locking position, and in this manner the rimis made fast to the body of the wheel.

Between the detachable or .adjustable countersupport forthe detachablerim II, I2 and the section I2 supported thereby there must necessarilybe left,`if only to-allow for the unavoidable inaccuracies inmanufacture, a certain clearance 40 which is indicated by dotted linesin the lower part of Fig. 1 and denoted by 20. In order that the fittingtogether of thefparts of the wheel may be capable of being carried outwith sufficient ease this clearance must amount to several millimeters.Ifthe detachable or adjustable countersupport take'the form of a closedring adapted to bear against the body III of the wheel, it will be clearthat the displacementl and deformation oi' the section I2 requiring tobe eifected'by the internal pressure ,of the tire in order to cause thissection to bear against the adjustable counter-support must correspondto this clearance 28 that is to say must be fairly great. If it isdesired to detach the rim from the wheel while the tire remainsinflated, it will be necessary to overcome the pressure of the sectionI2 against the ajustable counter-support, that is to say to -reduce thebreadth of the rim, which, `in the case of the constructional exampleshown, implies enlargement of the diameter of the section I2. Thecomparatively great displacement and deformation of this section I2eiected by the internal pressure of the tire during the attachment ofthe rim must thus be made retrogressive, in opposition to the internalpressure of the tire and to the frictional resistance setup between theconical iianges I6 and I1. To this end the toggle lever I8 would lave.to be transferred from the markedly bent position shown in Fig. 4 intothe fully stretched position shown in Fig. 5, which is, however, inpractice quite impossible.

In accordance with the invention, the countersupport for the section I2takes the form of an open expanding ring 25 which is provided on its 75outer periphery with a conical seating surface 26 At the same time forthe correspondingly shaped seating surface 21 on the section I2, andwhich is capable of being expanded in any suitable manner, for exampleby means of a wedge-shaped member adapted to force its ends 251 and 252(Figs. 2 and 3) apart. In the constructional example shown in thedrawing, the expanding ring 25-is detachably connected to the body IIIof the wheel in the manner of a bayonet joint; for this purpose it isprovided on its inner periphery with a number of inwardly extending lugs28 which come into engagement with outwardly extending lugs 29 on thebody I0 of the wheel. The ring 25 consists of steel and is elastic; inthe non-tensioned con- .dition its diameter is such that its seatingsurface 25 is spaced from the seating surface 21 on the section I2 tothe extent of. the required clearance 2li (see lower part of Fig. 1). Inthe nontensioned state the expanding locking ring is thus loose and canbe turned, so that its lugs 28 can be brought out of engagement with thelugs 29 on the body I0 of the wheel, and the ring can be removed.

In mounting a detachable rim of the type described on the bodyl I0 ofthe wheel, the expanding locking ring`25 is vfirst removed; thedetachable rim with the inflated tire thereon, and with the section T2set in the position of larger diameter, is then fitted on to the body Inoi' the wheel, after which the expanding ring 25 is placed in positionand Aturned into the locking position. Before the rigid connectionbetween the sections II and. I2 is released by withdrawal Y of thetoggle lever I8, and the internalA pressure of thetire thereby broughtto bear in the abovedescribed manner, the diameter of the locking ring25 is increased by the spreading or forcing apart of its ends. In thismanner the bearing surface 26 on the locking ring 25 is brought nearertothe bearing surface 21 on the section I2. If the ring 25 be thenlocked or otherwise set in the expanded condition, and the rigidconnection between the sections I I and I2 released by the withdrawal ofthe toggle lever I8 from the section I2, the extent to which the sectionis required to be displaced` and deformed by the internal pressure ofthe tire is lessby the amount to which the locking ring 25has comenearer to this member in consequence of the described enlargement of itsdiameter. but a fraction of the amount of movement necessary with 4aclosed locking ring under th` same circumstances. 'I'he slight amount ofdisplacement and deformation of the section I2 which is now necessarycan easily be made retrogressive with but little-expenditure of energy,and that This extent is now by means of the toggle lever I8. Since forthe purpose of attaching the rim, the diameter of the section I2 is onlydecreased to quite a slight extent, the t'oggle lever I8, when insertedbetween the noses I9, will be almost in the fully stretched position, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Pressure exerted upon the joint ofthis lever in the direction of the arrow` IH (Fig. 4)

will thus be transmitted with very great leverage to the ends of thesection I2.

`Theoretically theA diameter of the locking ring 25 could be increasedto such an extent that its l seating .surface 2B is brought to bearagainst the seating surface 21 of the section I 2 while the latter isset at its large diameter. In reality, however, there is a=slight gapbetween these seating surfaces, since both the section I2 and also thelocking ring 25 are not absolutely circular after having been spread orexpanded in the described manner,

and this slight gapI only becomes closed by the pressing of the sectionI2 against the locking ring 25. v

' As Fig. 2 shows, the gap' I5 in the section I2. 5 isvapproximatelydiametrically opposite the gap in the expanding locking ring 25. Theslight deviations from the circular produced in these parts by thespreading are approximately at 4 right angles to each other, and theytherefore cancel each other under the action of the internal pressure ofthe, tire, so that when the rim is attached to the wheel the sectionI I2is perfectly circular.

The spreadinglocking ring 25 is further provided on its innerperipherywitha conical surface 3| with which it bears in a radial senseagainst a correspondingly shaped conical surface 32 on the body I0 ofthe wheel. In the constructional example shown in the drawing theconical surfaces 3| and 32 are provided on the interengaging lugs 28 and29 on the locking ring and wheel I Il, respectively. This arrangevmentensures that the locking ring 25 remains coaxial to the wheel'when:spread from its ends 25 in the described manner.

The spreading of the locking ring 25 can be effectedin any suitablemanner, for example by means of a toggle lever similar to that providedin conjunction with the section I2. In the con- 30 structional exampleshown in the drawing,` the spreading of the locking ring 25 is effectedby means of a wedge vwhich is pivotally mounted in a forked extension 33on the body I0 of the wheel (Figs. 1 and 2,). This wedge is fast on a isquare section pin 36 over which there is fitted a bushing 3I;1 which isrotatably mounted in the body I0 of the wheel, and which is retained inposition by means of two disc's,38 which in their turn are retained -bysplit pins. The projecting 40 ends of the square section pin 36 servefor the application of a key or Spanner by means of which the wedge 35can be rocked. The wedge 35 itself is in the shape of an arc which isconcentric to its axis of rotation, its wedge surfaces 39 beingdivergent in a peripheral direction relatively to the pivot axis. 'Ihesewedge surfaces, as shown in Fig. 3, merge into 4parallel surfaces 40which come into -position "between the ends 251 and 252 of the lockingring 25. (Figs. l and 2) 50 when the wedge is in its end position. Theinternal pressure of the tire tends to compress the locking ring 25, andthe portion of the wedge 35 having parallel faces is thus firmly clampedbetween the ends 251 and 252 of this ring.

To detach a rim with an inflated tire thereon, the ends of the sectionI2 are first spread slightlyI by means of the toggle lever I8. lever isthereby placedvin its stretched position (Fig. 5), and caused to lockthe section I2 in a ovcondition of slight expansion. In this manner thepressure of the tire upon the locking ring 25 is relieved, so that thewedge 35 can be rocked outwards, and the locking lring then turned and`removed. The. rim together with the inflated 6.; tire can then beremoved `from the wheel, and is at once ready forA mounting on the samewheel or on another wheel of the same construction.

, Instead of a locking ring adapted to be attached to the wheel by abayonet joint arrangement, a plain open expanding ring could 'also bemployed. In this case, however, the ring would have to remain upon thebody I0 of the wheel and, in orderto permit of the removal of the rimfrom the wheel, would have to be capable of 75 being compressed to suchan extent that the -connection with wheels of this type.

lThe toggleA removable sectioncould be passed thereover. The lockingvring would thus have to be capable of very considerable variation .indiameter, Iand for this reason the employment-of a bayonet 'ring of thetype described Ais preferable.

Plain locking rings are already known per se in i In the known wheelsthey serve, however, for the retention of undivided rims or of rimswhich are not clamped in position by the internal pressure of the tire.For this purpose the locking ring must be expanded to such an extentthat it clamps the rim with sumcient force, which is, however, inpractice quite impossible.` In the present invention the expansibilityof the locking ring 25 has for its purpose to bring its bearing surfacenearer to the counter-moving bearing surface 21 on the section I2, sothat the deformation and displacement of this section may be kept downto a minimum.

In the constructional example shown in the drawing the adjustablecounter-support for the detachable rim II, I2 takes the form of a splitexpanding ring 25. This counter-support can, however, also take the formof an undivided ring which, like the split expanding ring 25, isdetachably and adjustably connected to the wheel by means of inwardlyprojecting lugs 28 adapted to engage, in the manner of a, bayonet joint,lugs 29 on the Wheel I0 projecting outwards towards the periphery of thesame. The additional movey ment towards the section I2 by which the gap26 (Fig. 1) is entirely or partly closed, can in this case be effectedby the arrangement that the closed locking ring bears against the bodyof the wheel by means of surfaces which are helically pitched in onedirection of rotation or the other so that with its movement into thelocking position it also acquires an additional movement towards thesection I2. For -this purpose it is merely necessary, for example, forthe superposed surfaces of the lugs 28 and 29 (Figs. 1 and 2) to beconstructed as portions of screw threads of very slight pitch.

We claim:

1. A vehicle wheel assembly comprising a Wheel b0dy,acircumferentiallydivided rim, the rim sections having coacting conicalflanges detachably connecting said sections together, means for varyingthe width of the connected rim sections, a fixed counter support for onerim section on the wheel body, a detachable counter support for theother rim section on the wheel body and bearing against the latter, thesaid detachable counter support consisting of a split ring provided witha conical seat coacting with the seat of the corresponding rirn section,means for varying the diameter of the said split ring, and means actingon circumferential displacement of the split ring with respect to thewheel body to permit removal of said split ring from the wheel-body.

2. A vehicle wheel assembly comprising a wheel body, a circumferentiallydivided rim, the rim sections having coacting conical anges detachablyconnecting said sections together, means -for varying the width of theconnected rim sections, a xed counter support for one rim section on thewheel body, a detachable counter support for the other rim section onthe wheel body and bearing against the latter, the said detachablecounter support consisting of a split ring provided with a corneal seatcoacting with the seat of the corresponding rim section, means forvarying the diameter of the said split ring, means acting oncircumferential displacement of the -.split ring withrespect to thewheel body to per- -mit removal of said split ring from the wheel body,and coacting lconical bearing faces on the contacting portions ofthewheel body and split v ring. y

, 3. A vehicle wheel assembly -comprising a tvlvneell body, acircumferentially divided rim,'the ri-xn sections having coactingconical anges detachably connecting said sections together,

l0 means for varying the width of the connected rim sections, a xedcounter support for one rim section on the'wheel body, a detachablecounter support for the other rim section on the wheel body and bearingagainst the latter, the said detachable counter support consisting of asplit ring and being provided with means for varying the distance of itsseat from the seat of the corresponding rim section, the said meansconsisting of a wedge-like member engageable between the ends'of thesplit ring for varying the diameter thereof.

4. A vehicle wheel assembly comprising a Wheel body, a circumferentiallydivided rim, the rim sections having coacting conical flanges detachablyconnecting said sections together, means for varying the width of theconnected rim sections, a iixed counter support for one rim section onthe wheel body, a detachable' counter support for the other rim sectionon the wheel body and `bearing against the latter, the said detachablecounter support consisting of a split ring and being provided with meansfor varying the distance of its seat from th seat of the correspondingrim section, said means comprising a wedgelike member pivoted on thewheel body and engageable between the ends of the split ring to vary thediameter of the latter.

5. A vehicle wheel assembly comprising a wheel body, a circumferentiallydivided rim, the rim sections having coacting conical flanges detachablyconnecting said sections together, means for varying the width of theconnected rim sections,

a xed counter support for one rim section on the Wheel body, adetachable counter support for the other rim section on the wheel bodyand bearing against the latter, the said detachable counter supportconsisting of a split ring and being provided with means for varying thedistance of its gageable .between the ends of. the `split ringlto varythediameter of the latter, said wedge-like member having oppositelyinclined surfaces and parallel iiank portions vadapted to enter betweenthe ends of the split ring.

6. A vehicle wheel assembly comprising a wheel body, a circumferentiallyd ivided'rim',' they rim sections having coacting conical angesdetachably connecting saidsectlons together'y means for varying thewidth of the connected rim sections, a xed counter support for one rimsection on the wheel body, a detachable counter support yfor the otherrim section on the wheel body and bearing against the latter, the saiddetachable counter support consisting of a split ring provided with aconical seat enacting with the seat of the corresponding rim section,means for varying the diameterof the said split ring, inwardly extendinglugs carried by the split ring and abutment members carried by the wheelbody and coactlng with the lugs to hold the split ring on the wheelbody, said ring being circumferentially movable to disengage the lugsfrom said abutment members and permit removal of the split ring from thewheel bodv.

7. A vehicle wheel assemblyv comprising a Wheel body, acircumferentially divided rim, the rim sections having coacting conicalflanges detachably connecting said sections together, means for varyingthe width of the connected rim sections, a fixed counter support for onerim section on the wheel body, a detachable counter support for theother rim section on the wheel body and bearing against the latter, thesaid detachable l.

movable to disengagethelugs from said abut-l ment members and permitremoval of the split ring from the Wheel body, the engaging surfaces ofthe lugs and abutment members being of substantially conical form.

EMIL ZIPPER.y WALTER, zIPPER.

